Site Remediation Program

The Site Remediation Reform Act set forth sweeping changes to the way in which sites are remediated in New Jersey. SRRA established the affirmative obligation for
responsible parties to remediate contaminated sites in a timely manner and created a category of remediation professionals known as Licensed Site Remediation professionals
(LSRP). For more information, please see the Overview of the LSRP Program.

As of May 7, 2012,
with limited exceptions, all remediations in the state of New Jersey, without regard
to when remediation was initiated, are to proceed under the supervision of a
Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP), without New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (Department) approval following the nine requirements
set forth at N.J.S.A. 58:10B-1.3b(1) through (9).

The goal is to increase the pace
of remediation, thus helping to decrease the threat of contamination to public
health and safety and of the environment, and to quickly return underutilized
properties to productive use.

Key provisions of SRRA and related amendments:

Establishes the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board (Board)
and the LSRP program. The Board issues licenses to qualified individuals
(LSRPs), who conduct the remediation of sites in New Jersey. Every LSRP
is bound by a strict code of ethics, violation of which could result in the
assessment of penalties and the suspension or revocation of the LSRP's license.

Sets forth the affirmative obligation of every person responsible for conducting remediation
to remediate any discharge for which they would be liable pursuant to the Spill Compensation
and Control Act. Note that the voluntary cleanup program under Memoranda of Agreement
(MOAs) no longer exists.

Sets forth the circumstances under which the Department shall undertake direct oversight
(see N.J.S.A. 58:10C-27a), and may undertake direct oversight (see N.J.S.A. 58:10C-27b)
of a remediation. Under direct oversight, the person responsible for conducting the remediation
loses much control over remediation decision-making; the Department may guide the remediation,
select the remedy and require the person to establish a Remediation Trust Fund to pay for the
remedial approach directed by the Department. Requirements regarding direct DEP oversight are
codified in the ARRCS at N.J.A.C. 7:26C-14. Additional information regarding direct oversight
is available here.

Requires the Department to establish presumptive remedies for residential development,
schools and childcare facilities to ensure that the remedy implemented at the site is
protective of human health and safety and of the environment. Requirements regarding
presumptive remedies are codified in the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation
(Technical Requirements) at N.J.A.C. 7:26E-5.3. Additional information regarding presumptive
remedies is available here.

The phase in period and beyond:

SRRA and the related amendments to the Brownfield Act
required the Department to phase in implementation of the use of LSRPs by remediating
parties. This phase in period ended on May 7, 2012.

All parties who initiated remediation after November 3, 2009 were required to follow
N.J.S.A. 58:10B-1.3b(1) through (9), including the requirement to hire an LSRP to
oversee the remediation, and the requirement to remediate the site without prior
NJDEP approval.

The option afforded to parties who initiated remediation prior to November 3, 2009,
which was to either continue to remediate their site under the traditional remediation
paradigm of NJDEP oversight and approval, or to "opt-in" to the LSRP remediation
paradigm, ended on May 7, 2012.

The LSRP program does not apply to certain types of remediation, including the remediation of
a discharge from an unregulated heating oil tank that is specifically exempted by SRRA, and
certain Federal-lead cases (RCRA, CERCLA, Department of Defense, Department of Energy), Department
publicly funded cases, and landfill cases that remain under the oversight of the Department's
Solid Waste program. Additional information regarding Federal-lead cases is available here.